Holism vs. Particularism: an Evidential Debate

Lecture

Wednesday, November 21, 2018, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Speaker

Peter Achinstein (Johns Hopkins University)

Abstract

The holist claims that systems of hypotheses, not individual ones, receive evidential support. Particularists claim that systems of hypotheses receive evidential support if and only if each hypothesis in the system does. In the mid-19th century the philosopher John Stuart Mill and the scientist William Whewell debated this issue with respect to the wave theory of light. To believe the theory, Mill said, you must find the ether, which is waving. Whewell replied “not so.” Who was right, and why?

Wednesday, November 21, 2018 - 4:30PM - Wednesday, November 21, 2018 - 6:00PM Add to Calendar 2018-11-21 16:30:00 2018-11-21 18:00:00 Holism vs. Particularism: an Evidential Debate Abstract The holist claims that systems of hypotheses, not individual ones, receive evidential support. Particularists claim that systems of hypotheses receive evidential support if and only if each hypothesis in the system does. In the mid-19th century the philosopher John Stuart Mill and the scientist William Whewell debated this issue with respect to the wave theory of light. To believe the theory, Mill said, you must find the ether, which is waving. Whewell replied “not so.” Who was right, and why? Peter Achinstein (Johns Hopkins University) UTC public

Wednesday

November

2018

5:30PM

Budapest Site

Nador u. 15

Host

Department of Philosophy

Audience

Public

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